Latest news with #KaraGammell
Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Embarrassed people turning to unreliable sources for financial help
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info People are turning to AI for financial advice as new data reveals one in five 18-24 year olds have used artificial intelligence tools for help with money. The Money Talks report from MoneySuperMarket and suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) shows younger people are also being influenced by financial content on social media. The report also found that young people are feeling pressured by social media to make more money, with a third saying the content they viewed made them feel they have to be financially successful. And one in 10 said that after going online they felt influenced to invest in riskier products such as NFTs or cryptocurrency. Four out of 10 young people said they did not feel confident when it comes to money, but over half said embarrassment would stop them from asking friends, family or other adults in their lives for help with managing money. Instead, they are using AI tools and social media to fill in the gaps in their financial knowledge - leaving them vulnerable if they do not check if that information is accurate and credible. MoneySuperMarket's personal finance expert Kara Gammell said: 'This research underscores the financial and mental health challenges facing younger people. The taboo that stops people talking about money and money worries is not only impacting people's finances, it's harming their well-being too. 'We're proud to partner with Campaign Against Living Miserably on the Money Talks campaign. Together, we're providing resources and support to make it easier to talk about money and to access information to help make financial decisions. These resources are available for everyone at
Metro
09-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Articles up to May 9th, 2025
Kara Gammell | Money journalist Kara Gammell is an award-winning financial journalist with nearly two decades of experience writing about money for national newspapers and magazines. Kara regularly appears as a money expert on tv, radio and podcasts and is founder of money-saving blog Your Best Friend's Guide to Cash.
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Big supplier launches market-leading energy deal that's £265 below price cap and you'll get free electricity on Sundays
A BIG energy supplier has launched a market-leading fixed energy deal that's £265 cheaper than Ofgem's price cap. British Gas, if offering customers the chance to fix and lower their bills for the next 12 months. 1 Customers can also take advantage of discounted electricity on Sundays via the Peak Save Sundays scheme Available exclusively through MoneySuperMarket, the British Gas Fixed Tariff v63 is priced at £1,584 a year - £265 below Ofgem's current price cap and £99 cheaper than Cornwall Insight's July price cap forecast. This deal could benefit millions, as over 22million households on standard variable tariffs remain directly impacted by the price cap which changes every three months. Currently, the price cap sets annual energy costs at around £1,849. Analysts at Cornwall Insight predict this will drop by nearly 9% to £1,683 in July. However, many households may still pay more than Ofgem's headline figure. This is because the price cap doesn't cap total bills but limits the maximum cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of gas and electricity, along with daily standing charges. By choosing a fixed deal, customers can lock in consistent rates for a set period, potentially avoiding fluctuations in energy prices. Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "This British Gas fixed deal is currently the cheapest of all major energy suppliers in the UK, and could save customers over £260 a year on their energy bills. "Switching to a fixed tariff like this one can make budgeting your monthly and annual bills easier, as well as offering protection from any future price cap rises." Of course, opting for a fixed energy deal carries the risk that, if energy prices drop further, you might end up paying more than you would on a variable tariff. What is the energy price cap? However, analysts have long said that households should not anticipate any significant drops in prices this year. If you're interested in signing up for the British Gas fixed tariff, you can do so by visiting Hurry, though - the offer is only available until 5pm tomorrow (May 1). How can I check future price cap predictions? EDF Energy has launches a brand new Ofgem price cap prediction tool on its website. The energy company updates the tool with new information about changes to the cap on energy prices every Tuesday. It also includes advice on how this affects your energy tariff choices. You can find out more by visiting Customers signing up for British Gas' latest fixed tariff can also take advantage of discounted electricity sessions on Sundays through the Peak Save Sundays scheme. This initiative offers eligible customers half-price electricity between 11am and 4pm every Sunday. To join the scheme, visit and submit your application. If successful, British Gas will notify you, and your savings will appear as "PeakSave Credit" on your next energy bill or online statement. The scheme is only available to customers with a smart credit or prepayment meter capable of sending half-hourly readings. If you don't already have a smart meter, British Gas will install one in your home free of charge. How can I find the cheapest fixed deals? To find the best fixed energy deals, start by visiting price comparison websites, which aggregate various offers from different energy suppliers. The best sites include and MoneySavingExpert's Cheap Energy Club. Enter your postcode and current energy usage details to receive a list of available deals tailored to your needs - it'll take you less than five minutes. You'll then be able to compare the rates, contract lengths, and any additional features or benefits offered by each deal. Next, visit the websites of individual energy suppliers to check if they have exclusive deals that are not listed on comparison sites. Sometimes, suppliers offer special promotions or discounts directly to customers. Compare these offers with those on the comparison websites to ensure you get the best possible rate. Finally, consider customer service reviews and the overall reputation of the suppliers. Once you have identified the best deal, follow the instructions to switch your energy provider.
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Big supplier launches market-leading energy deal that's £265 below price cap and you'll get free electricity on Sundays
A BIG energy supplier has launched a market-leading fixed energy deal that's £265 cheaper than Ofgem's price cap. British Gas, if offering customers the chance to fix and lower their bills for the next 12 months. Available exclusively through MoneySuperMarket, the British Gas Fixed Tariff v63 is priced at £1,584 a year - £265 below Ofgem 's current price cap and £99 cheaper than Cornwall Insight's July price cap forecast. This deal could benefit millions, as over 22million households on standard variable tariffs remain directly impacted by the price cap which changes every three months. Currently, the price cap sets annual energy costs at around £1,849. Analysts at Cornwall Insight predict this will drop by nearly 9% to £1,683 in July. However, many households may still pay more than Ofgem's headline figure. This is because the price cap doesn't cap total bills but limits the maximum cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of gas and electricity, along with daily standing charges. By choosing a fixed deal, customers can lock in consistent rates for a set period, potentially avoiding fluctuations in energy prices. Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "This British Gas fixed deal is currently the cheapest of all major energy suppliers in the UK, and could save customers over £260 a year on their energy bills. "Switching to a fixed tariff like this one can make budgeting your monthly and annual bills easier, as well as offering protection from any future price cap rises." Of course, opting for a fixed energy deal carries the risk that, if energy prices drop further, you might end up paying more than you would on a variable tariff. What is the energy price cap? However, analysts have long said that households should not anticipate any significant drops in prices this year. If you're interested in signing up for the British Gas fixed tariff, you can do so by visiting Hurry, though - the offer is only available until 5pm tomorrow (May 1). How can I check future price cap predictions? EDF Energy has launches a brand new Ofgem price cap prediction tool on its website. The energy company updates the tool with new information about changes to the cap on energy prices every Tuesday. It also includes advice on how this affects your energy tariff choices. You can find out more by visiting Customers signing up for British Gas' latest fixed tariff can also take advantage of discounted electricity sessions on Sundays through the Peak Save Sundays scheme. This initiative offers eligible customers half-price electricity between 11am and 4pm every Sunday. To join the scheme, visit and submit your application. If successful, British Gas will notify you, and your savings will appear as "PeakSave Credit" on your next energy bill or online statement. The scheme is only available to customers with a smart credit or prepayment meter capable of sending half-hourly readings. If you don't already have a smart meter, British Gas will install one in your home free of charge. How can I find the cheapest fixed deals? To find the best fixed energy deals, start by visiting price comparison websites, which aggregate various offers from different energy suppliers. The best sites include and MoneySavingExpert's Cheap Energy Club. Enter your postcode and current energy usage details to receive a list of available deals tailored to your needs - it'll take you less than five minutes. You'll then be able to compare the rates, contract lengths, and any additional features or benefits offered by each deal. Next, visit the websites of individual energy suppliers to check if they have exclusive deals that are not listed on comparison sites. Sometimes, suppliers offer special promotions or discounts directly to customers. Compare these offers with those on the comparison websites to ensure you get the best possible rate. Finally, consider customer service reviews and the overall reputation of the suppliers. Once you have identified the best deal, follow the instructions to switch your energy provider. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Abandoned cinema to be BULLDOZED as new plans for major transformation including Burger King and Greggs are revealed
ABANDONED cinema to be bulldozed as new plans for major transformation including Burger King and Greggs are revealed. Residents living near an abandoned former cinema in Derby have welcomed major plans to transform the site - after branding it disgusting. 5 5 5 New plans have been submitted to turn the former Showcase Cinemas site on Foresters Park into a care home, as well as new food and drink outlets including Burger King, Starbucks and Greggs. Derby City Council is currently considering the plans for the site with two different planning applications sent to the local authority within recent months. LNT Care Developments & Pear Tree (Derby Ltd) wants to build a three-storey 66-bedroom residential care facility with associated access, parking and landscaping at the site. But the city council has written to developer to register its reservations over how suitable the site is for "sensitive residential use", due to the nearby Lidl and The Oast House pub. However, a planning statement on behalf of the developer said the site was "highly suitable" for a care home which would provide a "much-needed" service reports the DerbyTelegraph. Meanwhile, a separate planning application for the same site wishes to build an additional retail space for a drive-through Burger King restaurant and Starbucks coffee shop next to the care home. A new Greggs store is also in the pipeline under the plans. In a letter, the council said: "It is clear that there will be sources of noise on all sides of the site, both during the day and through much of the night. "Good acoustic design could reduce the impact of external noise within the building. "But it is likely that noise could be an issue within external amenity areas for the care home, particularly due to the topography and the resulting elevation of the road in relation to the care home." Three iconic retailers file for bankruptcy in shopping bloodbath – and liquidation sales have already started However, residents living nearby say they want to see change in the area after the site has stood derelict for years and were very critical of the building's condition. One resident said: 'I think it is disgusting - I can't believe someone is allowed to half demolish it and then leave it as it is. 'It's an eyesore and I'm glad there are new plans in place. Burger King would be awesome, but we need more things for the community. "I'm not sure if a residential care home would work with it being next to a busy road. But anything is better than leaving it like this.' How to effectively manage your money Kara Gammell, finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, gives tips on how to get a handle on your finances so you have more left for saving, Analyse your spending If you're struggling to get a grip on your finances, the way to start is to do a proper inventory. Try Emma, the money management app, which uses open banking to combine information from all your bank accounts, savings accounts and credit cards, plus investments. The app then highlights any wasteful subscriptions and costly debt and helps streamline your savings. What's more, it analyses your personal finances and recommends ways to conserve money so that you can get on track financially more easily than ever. If you want to have a deep dive into your spending habits, go through your bank statement at the end of each month and give every purchase a rating of one, two or three. Mark with a 'one' any purchases that didn't make you feel good; give a 'two' rating to things that felt 'sort of good but indifferent'; and mark with 'three' any purchases that you would make all over again in a heartbeat. You'll be surprised by what you learn. Monitor your credit report From overdrafts to loans, credit cards, mobile phones and mortgages, it can be hard to keep track of your finances, and it can be all too simple to find yourself in the dark about how much debt you have in total. But this information forms your credit score, which is used by lenders to determine whether you'll be offered competitive rates and offers for financial products, or even whether you will even be accepted when you make an application. I use MoneySuperMarket's Credit Score tool, which is a free credit report tool that lets me see all my account balances in one place. I'm automatically notified when my credit report is updated monthly, which can be a huge help in avoiding any financial problems from spiralling and means I always know what my overall financial situation is. The tool also suggests ways to improve your credit score, so you're more likely to be offered competitive interest rates, which helps you save money in the long run. Another, who lives adjacent to the cinema building, said: 'It's such a shame to see the building as it is now. "It needs to become a beautiful place to come to again. The nice lights and beauty have now gone. "The cinema was a great place to go.' A third person said: 'I'd welcome something new, definitely. It's better than an empty building just standing there.' A new planning statement says: 'The existing cinema is in a dilapidated condition at present and can be seen as an unpleasant blot on such a prominent site. "While the existing trees offer some visual protection, the overarching presence of the cinema is apparent and has been for a number of years. 'Various pre-application meetings have taken place over a period of 12 months and most, if not all, comments received have been addressed where possible. "The resultant scheme is an exciting, vibrant and necessary proposal for a site which has remained in a state of repair for years on a key site in Derby.' In 2023, residents living on Osmaston Park Road and nearby called the site 'a dump'. One resident said: 'It's disgusting and it brings rats around here and stuff. "I wish they'd do something about it, big time. It's a shame it went down in the first place.' In other news, brand new Fisker Ocean EVs which were abandoned on the side of a road for five months, are now expected to fetch a collective six-figure sum at auction. And the discovery of a 1cm-spider brought down a multi-billion-pound proposal in Kent. 5 5
